The Niagara News is the community newspaper of Niagara College located in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. It is created and produced by the students of the Niagara College Journalism program.

Mothers in Niagara latch on to bring awareness

As the saying goes, breast is best. Just ask the ladies of the Niagara Breastfeeding Challenge.

Seventy-three mothers from the Niagara Region came together last weekend to participate in the 12th annual Breastfeeding Challenge, part of a world-wide event sponsored by the Quintessence Foundation to have as many mothers as possible breastfeed simultaneously.

Each mother had their own reasons for attending, but one goal was evident: to encourage and support a mother’s decision to breastfeed.

“The woman that come to this event, most of them are very passionate about breastfeeding,” said Carrie Chopp, a Niagara Region Public Health nurse who helped organize the event in Niagara. “Some of them, if they’re a little unsure, I think this event helps support them and make them feel more comfortable.”

The annual event provides a sense of community for families that breastfeed by bringing them together and giving them an opportunity to support one another.

“I’ve done it every year since I had my first almost eight years ago,” said Kirstin Kennedy, a volunteer and mother of three who took part in the challenge.

“It gets moms out to meet other moms… getting the word out there that breastfeeding is a good choice and it comes with benefits. We just want to celebrate moms who made that choice.”

Women at the challenge want breastfeeding to become the norm, rather than the exception.

Breastfeeding Niagara and Niagara Region Public Health hosted the event in the old-Sears court at the Pen Centre on Saturday, Sept. 29. All 73 moms’ “latched on” at 11 a.m.

The Quintessence Foundation, based in British Columbia, began the breastfeeding challenge in 2001 with 856 babies at 26 different locations. As of 2016 there is now more than 4,000 children participating globally across six countries.

In addition to “latching on,” mothers and children received prizes to celebrate various breastfeeding accomplishments.

Mothers and children from the Niagara Region participated in the annual Breastfeeding Challenge on Saturday Sept. 29, 2018 at the Pen Centre in St. Catharines. VICTORIA NICOLAOU/NIAGARA NEWS

The youngest baby in attendance was three-days old. The oldest child breastfeeding was Kory a six-year-old girl. They celebrated mothers tandem breastfeeding (two babies at once) as well as mother’s experiencing difficulties breastfeeding but still persevering.

On top of celebrating and supporting one another, Chopp said the goal is to normalize breastfeeding for those who don’t breastfeed.

“We have done focus groups with teens and some teenagers have never seen a woman breastfeed in their lifetime so we’re really trying to make it the norm,” said Chopp.

Tamsynn Rypstra and her four-month old boy Carson came to the challenge dressed for the occasion. Rypstra, a self-proclaimed advocate for breastfeeding, wore a “Lactivist” t-shirt and Carson’s wore a onesie that said “Mommy makes legen-dairy.”

Rypstra also brought her three-year old daughter Avery, mother and husband to what she calls an important “family event.”

Rypstra believes it’s important to include Avery in the challenge.

“She needs to see how this is normal and that this is okay because I’ve gotten people coming up to me telling me it was inappropriate,” said Rypstra. “We need to ban together.”

But for many mothers, finding a way to breastfeed successfully is a challenge.

Kate Bartlett is a mother of three attending her fifth challenge. She has become an advocate for breastfeeding despite the struggles she faced with all three of her children.

“I breastfed because I didn’t know any different,” said Bartlett on why she kept trying despite the difficulties. “I always wanted to breastfeed my children and definitely it was hard…but I knew it was best for them.”

“With my first I was a lot shyer (in public) and now I’ve become such an advocate and every time I see a mommy out there breastfeeding I think that it’s just the greatest.”

As a nurse Chopp understand the benefits of breastfeeding and hopes the challenge encourages mothers to breastfeed their children for up to two years and beyond.

“It’s the best things you can do for your baby,” said Chopp. “The benefits of breastfeeding are immense. It’ll decrease health-care costs in the future as well because they’ll be less illnesses in breastfed babies and it also really improves the health of woman who breastfeed.”

Allison Bowman, a mother of two and a five-year participant in the challenge, experienced struggles when breastfeeding her son. But after receiving help from the Niagara Region Public Health, Bowman discovered a passion in making sure other moms feel supported in trying to reach their breastfeeding goals.

“(The challenge) has been increasing every year since I’ve been involved with it,” said Bowman. “It’s also really exciting to see other moms that are extended breastfeeders.”

And for six-year old Kory, one of the extended breastfed children, breastfeeding is now more about comfort and attachment.

Kennedy agreed that breastfeeding provides children with emotional support as well as the well-discussed health benefits.

“(Breastfeeding’s) a great tool for supporting a child emotionally when they’ve got their big feelings and they are having a hard time self-regulating those big feelings,” said Kennedy.

Breastfeeding is also a magic fix for, not all, but most baby problems.

“Breastfeeding is pretty much my only trick,” joked Kennedy. “If they fall down and get hurt, I breastfeed. If they’re upset that they got the wrong color cup, I can just breastfeed… It’s a cure all for pretty much all things.”

Bartlett wants to remind mothers that there is help in the Niagara region for any mother who is struggling.

“We have a wonderful parent talk line… I think moms forget there is help out there but you need to call,” said Bartlett. “It’s just knowing where to get the support and help you need.”